Early November 1975.

The rat circled the centre of the room and then broke into a fast run zigzagging through the broken furniture. It tried to climb the stairs, and after a couple of attempts, it succeeded to get into the landing. It was panting.

"You've proven your point, Peter, now get down!" James called.

Sirius, at his side, just barked.

An instant later Peter was sitting on the topmost step of the stairs, beaming at them.

"So, what was your word, then?" Remus asked.

Peter shook his head.

"Not telling."

"What?" Sirius said, having just morphed back.

"You have to tell us!" James prompted indignantly.

"I'm not telling," Peter repeated, climbing down the stairs.

"Come off it," Sirius said, "you know our words; it's just fair for you to tell us yours."

"No it's not," Peter prompted. "You told me because you wanted to. I don't want to tell-"

"Are we doing this, then?" James cut across. "This month?"

Peter's word apparently forgotten, the three of them looked at Remus and almost unconsciously, he looked down at his prefect badge. He was feeling more excited than ever before in his life, the possibilities that seemed to open to him, the new adventure that full moons would be now.

"Definitely," he nodded. And yet, there was something else. "I guess…" he started.

"You guess?" Sirius asked.

"I mean… nothing's gonna go wrong, right?"

James gave him a pat in the back.

"We know the books by heart now. We know this is absolutely risk-free. Even if you bite us, it won't be dangerous; you can't give us lycanthropy while we're animals!"

"I know," he said firmly, trying to make all his insecurities go away.

"It's settled then," Peter said and Remus was sure he was just trying to distract the others from questioning any further about his word.

Remus just nodded.

"I need you to promise me something, though," he added as an afterthought.

"What is it?" James asked.

"You're not to come in here until I'm fully transformed."

"Why's that?" he asked again.

"I don't know how it is like, the process of transformation, " Remus tried to explain, "but I think it's then when something could get out of control. That's something that's not in the books, you see? We don't know what might happen."

"So, what are you saying?" Sirius arched an eyebrow.

"I'm just saying you should wait in the tunnel until I'm transformed, before coming in."

"How are we going to know?"

"Oh you'll know all right," he tried hard to sound nonchalant, despite of the shiver the mere thought sent down his spine. "I'll just stop howling."

November 18th 1975.

"Promise not to laugh," Peter asked, his tiny eyes circling the room.

"I won't," Remus said, fixing an envelope to one of the school owls' claw.

His head was throbbing and his palms were already sweaty. He did not need his lunar chart to tell him the full moon was approaching. And Peter, taking ages to tell whatever he was intending to tell, was not making matter any better.

"I don't know where it came from… I just know… it was the right one, you see?" he was trailing off.

From the glassless window of the owlery Remus could distinguish the crimson robes of the Quidditch team practicing for the upcoming match. It had not been casual Peter had waited to this moment to tell him. He had even made him swear he would not tell James or Sirius about it.

"What is it?" he asked, trying not to sound as restless as he felt.

Peter opened his eyes as wide as possible.

"I don't know what it means," he warned.

"You don't know the meaning of your word?" Remus arched an eyebrow.

"No, of course I do… I mean, I don't know why that is my word. But it must be, right? Because I could transform?"

Remus just nodded, feeling his patience was wearing off.

"Survival," Peter whispered.

"What?" Remus asked puzzled. This was something definitely unexpected.

"That's my word, survival. So… that's what I am, I guess, a survivor."

Remus racked his brains trying to see the connection between the short boy in front of him, the rat and the word. He could see none.

"I don't get it."

"Neither do I," Peter said, watching the owls fly out the windows. "I don't remember ever having survived anything and still… what if…?"

"You're afraid something might happened to any of you when I… you know, on the full moon."

Peter nodded.

"What if-?" he repeated.

Remus shook his head.

"Don't come this time, then" the idea had just come out of the blue.

"What?" Peter asked incredulously.

"Don't come this night," he said again. "Because, if anything, you're the most vulnerable of the group. I don't think I'd be able to harm a dog or a stag… but a rat… I might actually eat you!"

Peter opened his eyes wide again.

"D'you reckon?"

Remus pushed his hair out of his eyes. Was that a real possibility? It was the four of them, it always had been. How would they do this without Peter?

"I don't know…"

Peter looked thoughtful at the players on the pitch.

"That doesn't make any sense," he finally said. "Listen, I don't think the word's that important. Or maybe it is, but not right now. I'm coming anyway."

"You sure?"

"Yeah," Peter nodded, "I don't want to be the one left behind."

Remus beamed at him. He understood exactly what he meant.

The werewolf opened its eyes, panting a little. The heat, the hunger, the pain and the fury were making its legs tremble and a low grunt was coming from his throat.

He needed to stretch, he needed to go out, he needed prey.

The beast looked around trying to figure out where it was. The place was familiar, it was like a cage. He did not need steel bars or stone walls to realise that this was a place he could not get out from. Whenever he woke up, there was always this cage full of furniture, the smell of blood lingering everywhere. But there was never prey; there was never something to chase, to eat.

At least until now.

There were sounds coming nearby, from the other room of this place that was so much like a cage. Paws. Soft paws, strong hoofs, something scurrying.

Was it possible that this time, at last, after so many years of hunger, he was going to get prey? Was he going to calm his hunger?

He growled softly, anticipating the end of his hunger. Finally.

Another creature entered the room. It was taller than him, different, but not as much. The antlers on its forehead looked a bit intimidating, but there was something in the animal's posture that told the werewolf this was not a threat. It was not prey either.

He cocked his head, still listening.

Another animal was entering his cage. This was as large as he was, and much more similar; furry, pitch black, looking at him with wide grey eyes. And then a third creature came in, very small. In fact, it was so little it seemed almost insignificant.

The werewolf realised there was no calming from his hunger this time. And yet, he didn't felt that hungry anymore.

The black creature approached him, very slowly, with its head bowed. It whimpered a little; the werewolf did not know what he was supposed to do now. This strange animal did not seem to be menacing and yet he knew it could be a worthy adversary.

It was much closer now, and the werewolf gave a step back, growling. The black creature stopped on its tracks and looked at the larger one. It came closer as well, both looking at the werewolf.

They were not going to attack him, the werewolf was sure of that.

And yet…

The larger animal turned around and started walking into the other room, the tiny one following him closely. Finally the black one made the same, but stopped midway to look at the werewolf. It seemed they were telling him to follow them.

Relieved from the heating fury and from the hunger, the werewolf gave a little cry and followed the animals.

Remus opened his eyes, recognising the smell of potions, of starch and clean sheets, and the white light of the hospital wing. Something was missing though.

He looked around; his bed was surrounded by curtains as it usually was. At the bedside table, his wand was waiting for him. What was it, then?

Suddenly he realised, as he stretched his arm to grab his wand. There was pain, of course, but it was almost insignificant in comparison with what the previous full moon nights had been. He could feel his bones a little stiff, and his skin hot, just the way it was after a full moon. But other than that…

Remus checked under the sheets, there were no bandages in his legs or his torso. He looked around at his arms. The majority scars were those of the previous full moons, but there were almost no new open wounds, no blood, no biting marks.

Did that mean that he had not…?

The scariest of thoughts flooded his mind, while he tried hard to remember everything he had ever read on werewolves. If there was no prey, they would harm themselves; they would bit and scratch their own body. So, if he was unharmed now… he must have bitten something… somebody else!

Panic feeling his insides, Remus racked his brain looking for a way to find out. He needed to know, he needed to go and find James, Sirius and Peter and see if they were all right.

With a flicker of his wand, he opened the curtains a little. If he had indeed bit them, they must be there as well, lying in beds, covered in bandages. They were not. The hospital wing seemed to be empty. He risked opening the curtains a little more. There were two rows of beds, none of them was occupied.

What if they were in such a bad shape they had been sent to St. Mungo's?

The office door opened violently and Remus almost jumped out of bed of fight.

"How are we today?" Madam Pomfrey was as solicitous as ever, and yet there was some unknown tone in her voice.

"I'm… fine, fine," Remus said distractedly.

How could he ask her if the others were ok without saying anything about last night?

Madam Pomfrey was checking him, waving her wand and looking at his eyes and arms. She was frowning.

"Did you…?" she started, and then she closed her mouth.

"Yes?" he asked, trying to sound casual.

"Is everything all right?" she finally asked.

Remus nodded slowly.

"Yes… why?"

She did not answer but muttered something under her breath. Remus distinguished the word 'library'.

"I don't know," she finally said clearly, shaking her head. "You're… it is as if last night was… as if you had been much calmer this time. You're almost unharmed."

Remus' surprise was genuine.

"I feel better," he said. "Could I go now?"

Madam Pomfrey seemed not to be listening, her eyes lost somewhere between Remus shoulder and elbow.

"What? No, of course not!" she finally prompted.

Remus wanted all but groan.

He was about to marshal some arguments when the door of the hospital wing burst open. The sight of the three persons entering it was so relieving he felt like jumping out his bed and starting screaming wildly out of pure joy and relief.

"I've told you thousands of times-" Madam Pomfrey was saying.

"Good morning, Madam! A fine day to you!" Sirius called with cheek.

"Remus, mate, how are you?" James was almost yelling.

"What a nice day," Peter added.

Remus could hardly speak, he was afraid that if he opened his mouth a flow of laughter would come out without him being able to stop it.

"It's a nice morning indeed," he finally managed to say.

AN: Thank you very much for reading and reviewing!

Star Ash Myst, DeathlyHallowsschoolgirl, Sunshine Roses, NeverBeenDarkMarked, Dimcairien, QueenCobraWing, JL, TheAssassinRenevaron... thanks a heap you guys!